By IANS,
Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Monday said there are about 300 cadres of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in 15 camps located in Bangladesh.
“The ULFA and the NDFB based in Bangladesh are getting support from local groups and organisations like HuJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami) and we want Dhaka to launch a flush out drive to uproot their bases,” the chief minister told journalists here.
Gogoi said the Assam government would furnish a list of the camps to the external affairs ministry. “We want the external affairs minister to strongly take up the issue of northeast militant camps in Bangladesh with the new Awami League government during his upcoming visit to Dhaka,” he said.
He said at least 10 top leaders of the two outfits, including ULFA chief Arabinda Rajkhowa and NDFB president Ranjan Daimary, were based in Bangladesh.
“Unless camps of these outfits are busted from Bangladesh, it would be difficult to contain insurgency in Assam,” the chief minister said. Gogoi also said peace talks with the pro-talk factions of the ULFA and the NDFB could begin only if they abide by the ceasefire ground rules.
“We want all groups to come for talks, but they have to shun violence,” the chief minister said. A faction of both the ULFA and the NDFB are operating ceasefires with the government although formal talks are yet to begin.